Mounting means for enclosed electric devices



9 2. J. G. M'CKSON 2,304,923

MOUNTING MEANS FOR ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICES Filed Feb. 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J )7 fia'lisvm I ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1942. J. a. JACKSON 2,304,923

MOUNTING MEANS FOR ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICES Filed Feb. 29, 1940 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICES tion of Michigan Application February 29, 1940, Serial No. 321,429

8 Claims.

This invention relates to enclosed electrical equipment and more particularly to supporting means for an electric instrumentality.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved swingably movable mounting for an electric instrumentality to provide for easy accessibility thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved supporting means for an electric instrumentality whereby the terminal means carried by said electric instrumentality will be readily movable from a normally inaccessible position to a readily accessible position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mounted member for swingably supporting an electric circuit controlling instrumentality within an enclosing box which member shall be rotatively movable within the box to adjust the position of the instrumentality for the ready securance thereto of wire terminal leads.

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the electric instrumentality supporting means according to the present invention with a portion of the enclosure cover broken away to show the parts.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but with the supporting means swung to a position wherein the terminals carried by the electric instrumentality are readily accessible.

' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of the supporting member.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a modification of the invention.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the instrumentality supporting member swung to bring the instrumentality terminals into ready accessibility.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIIIVIII of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IXIX of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one end of the modification.

The embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings comprises an enclosing box I having a front cover 2 secured thereto as by studs 3. Within the box is disposed a mounting or supporting member 4 comprising an inverted generally U-shaped central portion 5 having flange portions 6 and I integral therewith and directed outwardly at generally right angles from legs 8 and 9 of the central portion 5. The flange portions 6 and l are return bent as at H and I2 parallelling legs 8 and 9 of said central portion 5. Secured to the base 13 of the central portion 5 as by rivets and disposed within the space defined by the legs 8 and 9 are the electric circuit controlling instrumentalities I4 having operating handles l5 thereon adapted to extend outwardly through openings IS in the base l3. At the opposite ends of the instrumentalities, there are provided a plurality of terminal means H for the connection of the instrumentalities in circuit. These terminals face toward the top and bottom of the enclosure and are disposed adjacent to the back of the instrumentalities so as to be normally relatively inaccessible for connection and manipulation.

The return bent legs II and I2 are provided with elongated openings or slots l9 extending into generally triangular shaped openings 22 and 23 provided within the flange portions 6 and 1. For swingably mounting the said supporting member 4 within the box I, the opposite side walls 24 and 25 of box I carry studs 26 and 21, adapted to be received within the elongated openings l9. Eared locking nuts 28 and 29 carried by the studs 26 and 2'! serve to normally retain the supporting member 4 within the box while providing for tilting and for removal thereof as desired. With the locking nuts rotated to bring the eared portions 3| thereof generally parallel with the faces of the flange portions 6 and l, the span is greater than the width of the triangularly shaped openings 22 and 23, whereby removal of the supporting member 4 is prevented. However turning of said locking members 28 and 29 to a position generally right angles to said flange portions 6 and 1 allows the ready removal of the supporting member as the width of the triangularly shaped openings 22 and 23 will then be suificient to clear the locking nuts.

Pressed out portions 32 in the side walls of the box cooperate with the slots or openings [9 to define the normal position of the supporting member with the instrumentalities in operating position.

The operation is as follows: The device as shown in Figure 1 is in normal operating position. When it is desired to manipulate the terminals for wire connection or other purposes, the nuts 28 and 29 are loosened, the support 4 pulled outwardly and rotated into the position shown in Figures 2 and 4 in which the top terminals are readily accessible from the front without removing the instrumentalities from the box. Rotation in the opposite direction will render the lower terminals accessible. To return the instrumentalities the support is rotated and pushed back into its original position and the nuts tightened whereupon the device is in normal position for operation.

In the modification depicted in Figures 6-10 inclusive the supportin member 33 is of a generally U shape having elongated openings 34 provided at either end of the base 35 thereof and extending parallel to the side walls 24 and 25. The supporting member 33 carries the electric circuit controlling instrumentalities M as before and rests within the enclosing box I upon generally L shaped bracket members 36 secured as by welding to the opposite side walls. Studs 37 passing through the elongated openings 34 and threaded into the bracket members 35 prevent the removal of the supporting member from the enclosing box. The legs 4! of support 33 have central notches 42 clearing the brackets 36. The normal position of the support is determined by the engagement of the front edge of the notches with the front faces of the brackets as the studs 3] are tightened. To manipulate the support 33 to provide access to the terminals, the studs 3'! are rotated to move them outwardly into the position of Figure 9 whereupon the support may be readily rotated or swung into the position of Figures '7 and 9 wherein the terminals will be readily accessible. Reverse manipulation of the support and studs will return the support to its normal operating position.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a supporting member for said instrumentality, means carried by said enclosing box adapted to swingably mount said supporting member upon said box, terminal means disposed upon either end of said instrumentality and being relatively inaccessible in the normal position of said instrumentality, said supporting member being rotatively movable in opposite directions about said mounting means to alternately carry said oppositely disposed terminal means into readily accessible positions for manipulation.

2. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a supporting member for said instrumentality, means carried by the side walls of said enclosing box for normally mounting said supporting member in operating position and providing for controlled removal of said supporting member from said box as desired, terminal means disposed upon said instrumentality and at either end thereof and being relatively inaccessible when said supporting member is in its normal position, said supporting member being rotatively movable in opposite directions about said mounting means while supported on the box to alternately render said terminal means readily accessible for manipulation.

all

3. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a mounting member for said instrumentality, stud means disposed upon opposite side walls of said enclosing box and adapted to removably and rotatively support said mounting member within the box, terminal means disposed upon said instrumentality at opposite ends thereof, said instrumentality being so positioned Within said box that said terminal means are placed in a normally inaccessible position, said mounting member being rotatively movable in opposite directions to alternately place said terminal means in readily accessible positions, and locking means carried by said stud means for maintaining said mounting member in position.

4. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a supporting member for said instrumentality, stud means mounted on said enclosing box and carrying said supporting member, terminal means disposed upon said instrumentality and at opposite ends thereof and being relatively inaccessible when said supporting member is in its normal position, said supporting member being rotatively movable in opposite directions about said stud means to alternately render said terminal means readily accessible, and locking means carried by said stud means to maintain said supporting member in position, said locking means in certain positions permitting the ready removal of said supporting member bodily from the box.

5. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a mounting member to which said instrumentality is secured, said mounting member having wall portions parallel to and adjacent the side walls of the box, said wall portion having elongated openings therein, stud means carried by said enclosing box adapted to cooperate with said elongated openings for mounting said mounting member while providing for longitudinal and rotative movement thereof, locking nuts on said studs maintaining said mounting member in position, terminal means disposed upon said instrumentality at opposite ends thereof and being relatively inaccessible when said mounting member is in its normal position, loosening of said locking nuts providing for forward sliding movement of the mounting member and for rotative movement in opposite directions to alternately render said terminal means readily accessible for manipulation.

6. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a mounting member to which said instrumentality is secured, said mounting member being provided with wall portions adjacent the side wall of the box and having elongated openings therein, stud means carried by said enclosing box adapted to cooperate with said elongated openings for slidably and tiltably mounting said supporting means, terminal means disposed upon said instrumentality and at opposite ends thereof, with said instrumentality being so positioned within said box that said terminal means are placed in a normally inaccessible position, said mounting member being slidably and rotatively movable in opposite directions to alternately carry the terminal means at either end of the instrumentality into readily accessible positions.

7. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, a supporting member for said instrumentality having elongated openings at either end thereof, holding means carried by said enclosing box and extending through said elongated openings for mounting of said supporting means within the box, terminal means disposed upon opposite ends of said instrumentality and being relatively inaccessible in the normal position of said instrumentality, said supporting member being tiltable in opposite directions about said holding means when they are released, whereby said oppositely disposed terminal means are alternately carried into readily accessible positions.

8. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box, supporting member for said instrumentality having elongated openings at either end thereof, supporting members carried by said enclosing box, holding means extending through said elongated openings and threaded into said supporting members, terminal means disposed upon opposite ends of said instrumentality and being normally inaccessible in the normal position of said instrumentality, said supporting member being tiltable about said supporting members while supported on the box when the holding means are released whereby the terminal means may be carried into readily accessible positions.

JOHN G. JACKSON. 

